Vusi Sibanda ton delivers Zimbabweans warm-up win

The tourists beat the UWI Vice Chancellor\'s XI, for whom Sarwan made 90, by 76 runs.

St Andrews: Vusi Sibanda got some runs under his belt ahead of the ODI series against West Indies starting Friday with a century that drove the Zimbabweans to a warm-up win over the University of West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI. The tourists won their only practice match by 76 runs after Sibanda's 114-ball 147 propelled them to a total of 346 for 7, after which nine bowlers were used to clinch a 76-run win at Progress Park.

The only positive for the UWI Vice Chancellor's XI was the return to form of Ramnaresh Sarwan, who struggled in the ODI series in Australia recently. Sarwan, late inclusion in the XI, top-scored with 90 as the home side were dismissed for 270; no other batsman reached 50.

Having opted to bat, the Zimbabweans were given a 110-run stand from Sibanda and Tino Mawoyo (30), after which Hamilton Masakadza walked in at No. 3 and hit 56 off 42 balls. The middle order struggled to dominate but wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva injected an unbeaten 41 off 20 balls as the Zimbabweans finished strongly.

Kyle Jarvis had the UWI Vice Chancellor's XI in early trouble when he removed the openers for ducks, but Sarwan and Shai Hope (44) steadied the innings. As many as nine bowlers were used to stem the innings, and Malcolm Waller finished with the best figures - 3 for 8 in two overs.